Bug Bites

Household ammonia is dilute ammonium hydroxide, which is also an ingredient of numerous other cleaning agents, including many window cleaning formulas. Ammonia is a base, or alkali, and alkalies neutralize acids. Most bug stings are acid based, like wasp and ant venom. So dabbing ammonia on the sting (or baking soda) will help neutralize the acid. But contrary to popular belief, honeybee stings will not be helped by this method. Honeybee venom is a protein, and amazingly, meat tenderizer works for this. The itch from mosquito bites is caused by histamine, the body's chemical reaction to the bug's saliva. Best remedy for this is hydrocortisone cream. Many natural remedy websites call for simple table sugar.  Sugar pastes, or honey help facilitate wound healing by reducing the amount of water within the wound, which significantly retards bacterial growth.  This can reduce scarring from scratching.  Wash all bite area with soapy water first.  Apply a cold compress if you need to reduce swelling. Take an allergy tablet and then apply one of the methods above. 

Safety First

A well-stocked first aid kit is a handy thing to have. To be prepared for emergencies keep a first aid kit in your home and in your car, carry a first aid kit with you or know where you can find one, know the location of first aid kits where you work. First aid kits come in many shapes and sizes. Some kits are designed for specific activities, such as hiking, camping or boating. Whether you buy a first aid kit or put one together, make sure it has all the items you may need; include any personal items such as medications and emergency phone numbers or other items your health-care provider may suggest, check the kit regularly, make sure the flashlight batteries work, check expiration dates and replace any used or out-of-date contents.

My first aid kits include:

bandages	large size bandages	adhesive tape
assorted sterile gauze pads	elastic bandage	gauze roll
sterile cotton-tipped swabs	Q-tips	pocket knife
scissors	tweezers	nail clippers
antiseptic spray	ammonia inhalant	itch relief spray
aloe gel	Sudaphed	burn cream
alcohol prep pads	pain reliever	chapstick
non latex medical gloves	hand sanitizer	instant cold pack
eye lubrication	antacids	Loperamide
hemostatic powder	glow sticks

Other useful things to have would be: sterile eyewash or saline, a blanket, first aid manual, antihistamine to treat allergies and swelling, decongestant, anti-nausea medicine, thermometer, tourniquet, suture kit, or bismuth subsalicylate.

Canned Pears

Prepare pears by peeling, coring and halving them. To prevent browning, submerge pears in a mixture of 1/4 cup lemon juice and 4 cups water and drain. To prepare light syrup, combine 2-1/4 cups granulated sugar and 5-1/4 cups water in a stainless steel saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Reduce heat to low and keep warm until needed, taking care not to boil the syrup down. Warm pears in syrup one layer at a time in a large stainless steel saucepan over medium-low heat until heated through, about 5 minutes. Pack hot pears into hot jars to within a generous 1/2 inch of top of jar. Ladle hot syrup into hot jar to cover pears, leaving 1/2 inch head space. Remove air bubbles and adjust head space, if necessary, by adding hot syrup. Wipe rim. Center lid on jar. Apply band until fit is fingertip tight. Process pint jars in a boiling water canner for 20 minutes and quarts for 25 minutes, adjusting for altitude. Remove jars and cool.

Pemmican

I was talking to my mother about beef jerky, and she asked if D and I had ever tried pemmican.  HOLY YUCK! I think I found a food source even worse than peanut butter Cliff Bars.

Pemmican is a concentrated mixture of fat and protein used as a nutritious food.  It was invented by the native peoples of North America.  Traditionally, pemmican was prepared from the lean meat of large game. The meat was cut in thin slices and dried over a slow fire, or in the hot sun until it was hard and brittle. About 5 pounds of meat are required to make one pound of dried meat suitable for pemmican. Then it was pounded into very small pieces, almost powder-like in consistency, using stones. The pounded meat was mixed with melted fat in an approximate 1:1 ratio.  In some cases, dried fruits  were pounded into powder and then added to the meat/fat mixture. The resulting mixture was then packed into rawhide pouches for storage.

Snake Stew

Gather and dice vegetables (carrot, celery, parsnips, onions). Capture one snake. Remove head, skin and organs. Dice meat. Size of it determines number you will need as well as number of guests and size of pot. Amount of vegetables should equal amount of meat. Add water enough to just cover ingredients. Season to taste with local seasonings (salt, pepper, parsley, chives). Bring to boil, allow to simmer off of flame for 5 to 10 minutes. Serve.

Fillets

This year's 'valuable skill' was catching, filleting, and eating fish. And mmmmm, they were tasty!

Gone Fishing

In Ohio, May 2nd and 3rd are free fishing days open to the public. No permit is required to go fishing. So, that's what I did! I had a fantastic day.

Cast Iron / Hot Pot Holders

Hot pot handles can be a problem, especially when you use cast iron. I made these cute little handle covers so I can use the pan handle and not worry about where I put my hot mitt. Plus, they are small and washable~

Use scrap fabric or whatever you have laying about. Also you may want rick-rack for the loop on top. Finished piece measures 6x3 inches and fits over your skillet handle.

If using cotton or flannel material cut piece 12x14 inches. If using denim (thick materials) cut 12x7 inches. If you would like to quilt the handles with batting, cut batting 12x7 inches.

A. Cotton
1. Fold material in half (wrong sides facing) so it measures 12x7 inches. If you want to add batting sandwich it between layers.
2. Quilt
3. Fold piece in half so it measures 12x3.5. Allow quarter inch seam allowance, sew down the long side of the mitt.
4. Add the loop. Using about two inches of material, form a loop and tack it to the very center of one of the open ends of the tube. The loop will be facing the bottom the the work, the end of the loop is facing the open end you are working on
5. Form a point. Measure one inch down from where the loop is and draw a line. Form a point by sewing diagonally from where the line meets the edge to the top center of your work. Each side.
6. Turn right side out. The loop should be sticking straight up. No seam edges are visible.
7. Sew bottom together. Stitch the open end of the tube shut.
8. This doesnt look right, does it? It is. You need to shove the bottom up into the body of the hot pot. Use your hands or a pair of scissors (be careful).
9. Now it is a doubled up tube that will easily pit on the handle of you
skillet! Enjoy :D

B. Denim
1. Fold piece in half so it measures 12x3.5. Allow quarter inch seam allowance, sew down the long side of the mitt.
2. Add the loop. Using about two inches of material, form a loop and tack it to the very center of one of the open ends of the tube. The loop will be facing the bottom the the work, the end of the loop is facing the open end you are working on
3. Form a point. Measure one inch down from where the loop is and draw a line. Form a point by sewing diagonally from where the line meets the edge to the top center of your work. Each side.
4. Turn right side out. The loop should be sticking straight up. No seam edges are visible.
5. Sew bottom together. Stitch the open end of the tube shut.
6. You need to shove the bottom up into the body of the hot pot. Use your hands or a pair of scissors (be careful).
7. Now it is a doubled up tube that will easily pit on the handle of you
skillet! Enjoy :D